Overdue Item

by Peter Menadue

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The next morning, the number of patrons visiting the library returned to about normal, although many still sashayed up to the borrowing counter and probed Julia about the murder. She repeated her lie that she was off sick and ignored their obvious disappointment. She also noted that no homeless men had re-appeared since the murder.

  After about an hour, she was sitting behind the borrowing counter, arguing with Gary about whether the right contestants got kicked off Aussie Talent the night before, when the door of Bronwyn's office opened and she emerged with a man in tow. He was in his early thirties, tall and broad-shouldered, with curly brown hair, handsome features and olive skin.

  Bronwyn had mentioned the new librarian was starting that morning. Surely, this was not him? Most male librarians looked like they got mugged with an ugly stick. Mr Cheshire was a case in point. This guy was way too good looking to be a librarian.

  Bronwyn smiled broadly at her staff to show the handsome bastard she was the merry leader of a happy band. "Troops, this is Tom Birkett. The agency just sent him over. He'll be temping here for a while."

  Oh, God, he was the replacement. Breath fled and knees rubberised. She had to re-grip the book she was holding. Her tongue turned to pumice and she hoped she could speak. "Hello, pleased to meet you. I'm Julia Schmidt."

  "Hi, Tom Birkett."

  She didn't dare make eye-contact while she shook his firm, warm hand with her moist one and tried not to blush.

  Gary gave the newcomer a wary, almost territorial, look, before leaning forward to offer his hand. "Hi, Gary Clarke; I'm the Librarian's Aide, so you can look down on me too, if you want."

  Bronwyn tittered uncomfortably and looked at Birkett. "Don't worry, nobody looks down on Gary - he's just joking."

  Gary said: "You've heard what happened here, a few days ago?"

  "Bronwyn mentioned there was an, umm, incident."

  A sardonic smile. "It was more than that for the poor old guy who got brutally murdered - strangled."

  Birkett raised his eyebrows. "Sounds very unpleasant. But I guess that doesn't happen every day."

  Julia giggled. "No."

  Gary interjected: "Only when there's a full moon."

  Bronwyn snarled and waved a finger. "Shut up." She turned to Birkett. "Don't worry, we've had some bad luck, but it's in the past."

  Birkett said: "Do the police know who did it?"

  Gary said: "Nope. They can't even identify the old guy. That's why, until they sort this out, I'm going to watch my back."

  Julia wondered why Gary was being extra-twerpish.

  Bronwyn glared at him. "Gary, stop talking rubbish. The police have said there's no danger, so don't be stupid."

  Gary shrugged. "What if they're wrong?"

  Bronwyn turned to Birkett. "Ignore Gary. Every team has a moaner; he's ours."

  "I resent that."

  "Good." Bronwyn looked at Julia. "I've got work to do in my office. Please show Tom around the library and introduce him to Mr Cheshire."

  "OK." She glanced at Gary. "You'll watch the counter?"

  A shrug. "Sure."

  Bronwyn gave Tom Birkett a last adoring glance before strolling back to her office.

  Gary gave the newcomer another wary look. "How long will you be here?"

  "Not sure. Bronwyn said that, if I shape up, she might make me permanent." His accent sounded faintly English.

  "Been a librarian for long?"

  "Not really? I got a degree and then travelled the world for about eight years. Only got back a couple of months ago."

  Julia stopped staring at the jut of his jaw and focused on what he was saying. "I bet that was exciting."

  He shrugged. "I suppose. But you know what Rochester said in Jane Eyre: 'I have travelled all over the world, Miss Eyre. And it's very overrated.'"

  Oh God, a librarian who actually read books - good books. "Maybe, though I'd like to find out myself."

  "You haven't been overseas?"

  "Only to Bali for a few days, which doesn't count."

  "How long have you been here?"

  "Two years. It's my first job."

  Tom Birkett glanced at Gary. "And you?"

  "About eight months. I'm in transition."

  "Between what?"

  "Uni courses, I think."

  That was the first time he'd hinted he might go back to university.

  She said to Tom Birkett: "Anyway, I'd better show you around."

  Still feeling nervous, she showed him how the computer catalogue worked, how to scan books in and out, and took him on a brief tour of the library. He picked up things fast, and she sensed he would soon get bored working at their library, if he wasn't bored already.

  After showing him the Children's Section, she said: "How many countries did you visit when you were overseas?"

  "Quite a few."

  She'd hoped for a more expansive answer. "You lived in England for a while?"

  "Why do you say that?"

  "You have a bit of an English accent, I think."

  "Do I? Yes, I lived in London for about five years."

  Now for the chore she dreaded. "Alright, I'd better introduce you to the other librarian, Arthur Cheshire. Come with me."

  She took him into the workroom where Mr Cheshire sat at the main table, his back to them, repairing a damaged book with glue and tape. He sensed their presence, spun around and gave Tom Birkett a wary stare.

  Julia wanted to call him "Arthur" and pretend the library staff were one big happy family, but lost her courage. "Umm, Mr Cheshire, let me introduce you to the new librarian, Tom Birkett."

  "New librarian?"

  "Yes."

  Mr Cheshire held out his bony hand to Tom Birkett and dialled up his stare. "Hello."

  "Pleased to meet you."

  They shook hands.

  Julia said: "Tom's replacing Katherine. He's a casual for now, but that might change."

  Mr Cheshire said: "Good. A useless woman - useless and stupid. I won't miss her." He looked back at Tom Birkett. "Where did you work before this?"

  "I've been overseas for a long time and got back a few months ago. Since then I've been temping here and there."

  Julia sensed he was being deliberately vague about his past, like Mr Cheshire.

  Mr Cheshire's stare tried to turn him to stone. "You don't look like a librarian."

  Tom Birkett looked a little uncomfortable. "Really? What do librarians look like?"

  A coffin-plate smile. "Not like you."

  Tom Birkett shrugged. "What about you? How long have you been here?"

  "About a year."

  "You sound English?"

  "Yes, I've only been in Australia for a few years."

  "Where did you work in England?"

  A shrug. "Oh, various places. The last library I worked in was a wonderful place." He looked around disdainfully. "Nothing like this one."

  Tom Birkett had already extracted more information from Mr Cheshire than Julia had managed in 12 months. She charged into the opening. "What was the library called?"

  A big frown. "None of your business. But let me tell you this: anyone who becomes a librarian these days is an idiot. When I started, about thirty years ago, people went to libraries because they stored the world's knowledge. Not anymore. Now you can store millions of books on a computer or even a mobile phone. Nobody needs libraries anymore. They're closing down or turning into community hubs where people surf the net or learn how to crochet. Soon we'll have to serve people coffee."

  That was the longest speech Julia had ever heard Mr Cheshire make and a serious candidate for the spookiest. During a recent fire safety drill, he said that, if there was a fire, they should let the library burn to the ground. She thought he was joking. Now, she wasn't so sure.

  She shivered. "Why are you still a librarian?"

  A crimson scowl. "Because I'm too old to retrain. I'm condemned to this job - trapped. I have wasted my life - wasted it. But you're a smart
girl. You should do something different with your life."

  She really did prefer Mr Cheshire when he said very little. This was not the sort of conversation she wanted to have in front of a new recruit to the library. Mr Cheshire's words hung in air like a rotting corpse until Tom Birkett nodded at the book he was repairing. "What's the book?"

  Mr Cheshire looked puzzled for a moment, and then displayed its cover. "A Stephen King novel. Someone broke the spine. We should throw it out, but we don't have enough money to buy new books, so I've got to repair it."

  Tom Birkett said: "Books shouldn't be thrown out. Have you heard of geniza?"

  "Yes."

  Julia said: "Geni-what? What is that?"

  Tom Birkett said: "G-E-N-I-Z-A. The ancient Jews weren't allowed to destroy or throw out any manuscripts that contained the divine name, no matter how damaged. So they stored them in geniza. The biggest ones were in Cairo. That's why we now have thousands of ancient manuscripts that would have been lost. "

  Mr Cheshire scowled. "You think that, in a thousand years time, scholars will want to read Stephen King?" He shrugged. "If they do, they'll laugh at us."

  Julia had not expected Tom Birkett and Mr Cheshire to become bosom buddies. But she was surprised at how quickly they started waving their dicks at each other. Time to pull them apart. She looked at Tom Birkett. "Alright, we'd better get back to the borrowing counter."

  "OK."

  Mr Cheshire gave the new librarian a last suspicious stare and said goodbye."

  As they strolled back to the borrowing counter, Tom said: "He doesn't seem happy with his job."

  She shrugged. "He's not happy with life. Don't let him worry you."

  "He doesn't."

  Gary had left the borrowing counter unattended. An old woman was waiting for service.

  A peevish stare. "You work here?"

  Julia slipped behind the counter with Tom Birkett just behind her. "How can we help?"

  The woman's dyed-brown hair clashed with the grey bristles on her upper lip and chin. "I want to borrow the new book by Dan Brown - The Vatican Cypher. It's not on the shelves."

  Bloody Dan Brown. He was fully entitled to write crap. But she spent big chunks of her day telling his fans that his novels were on loan. "Let me check the computer." She did a quick search of the catalogue. "We've got two copies, but they're both out and there are about twenty reservations."

  Bristles quivered. "Twenty? I love Dan Brown. Can't you push me up the queue?"

  "That wouldn't be fair."

  "I've been coming to this library for a long time."

  "So has everyone else."

  Tom Birkett had been tapping away on the second computer. "Madam, there's another book you could borrow which is just as good."

  "What?"

  "The Crucifix Code by David Lloyd. Have you read it?"

  "No. It's good?"

  "He's much better than Dan Brown."

  "What's it about?"

  "A biblical scholar discovers that Jesus was a zombie who didn't die on the cross because he was already undead. A whole host of zombies try to kill the scholar as the Day of Judgment approaches."

  "Sounds interesting. I like zombie books. You have it here?"

  "Let me get it for you."

  Her wide toothless smile said she had just joined the Tom Birkett Fan Club. "Thank you, young man, so polite."

  Tom Birkett disappeared into the fiction section and reappeared a minute later, holding the book. "This is it, Madam. Can I have your card?"

  She proffered her card and he used it to check out the book before handing over the book and card. The old woman gave him a debutante smile and shuffled off, mentally comparing him with loves past and finding them wanting.

  Julia felt oddly jealous about the attention her co-worker bestowed on the old bag. "You've actually read that book?"

  "No, only a short review."

  "Which said it was good?"

  "Not really."

  She saw Gary approach. "Where've you been?"

  "To the dunny. It's allowed, you know, since we're not issued with diapers."

  Julia was suddenly very tired of her co-workers - all of them, including the new one - and wanted time on her own. She looked at Gary. "Lots of shelving to do. Why don't you and Tom get busy on that?"

  "OK." He glanced at Tom Birkett. "Follow me."

  Gary grabbed a trolley of returns and led Tom Birkett off towards the bookshelves.

  Julia spent the rest of the day trying to hide her infatuation with the new staff member. But it was hard to avoid staring at him, and her brain and jaw didn't seem to function properly when they talked. She only started to relax while she wandered home, ogling him with her mind's eye, admiring his chiselled features and wide shoulders. He was good-looking, bright, self-confident and charming. Indeed, he looked and acted more like a barrister or merchant banker than a librarian. Maybe he was only doing the present job until he found something better to do.

  Her father had warned her that he was going out with some colleagues after work for a drink. She ate a melted-cheese sandwich at the kitchen table, alone.

  Afterwards, she strolled into the bathroom, to wash her hands, and looked at herself in the mirror. She'd never thought she was attractive, but didn't think she was ugly either. Her mother always said that she looked a lot prettier when she smiled. She thought about Tom Birkett, smiled, and sensed her mother was right.

  She climbed into bed and tried to read a Hilary Mantel novel, but couldn't concentrate. In just a few days, her cosy world had shattered. She discovered the body of an old guy, found out he was murdered, started suspecting co-workers, confronted a TV reporter and had a handsome new co-worker appear out of nowhere.

  She managed to force the first three issues out of her brain, but not the fourth. She stared at the ceiling and dredged up every memory of Tom Birkett she could.

  When she finally fell asleep, she dreamed she was walking up the long central aisle of a cathedral in a huge Lady Di wedding dress. Elton John played Rocket Man on a white baby-grand in a side chapel. Tom Birkett stood in front of the altar, clad in a military uniform smeared with medals. However, no matter how far she walked, she got no closer to him.

  She opened her eyes the next morning, remembered the dream and told herself to get a grip. He was probably either married or gay. And, even if he wasn't, he was way out of her league and wouldn't be interested in her. But, in a way, his unattainability increased his appeal. He was merely a prophet who foretold the arrival of The One. She could fantasise about a relationship without fear of rejection. She didn't care if that was kinda sad.

  After showering, she opened the bottom drawer of the vanity and rummaged around for a tube of lipstick. It took her a while, because she didn't use it much.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Half-an-hour later, Julia strolled towards the Library, planning how to stick close to Tom Birkett all day without looking like a drooling idiot. On the way, she stopped at the local supermarket for some tea-bags to use at work. Lying on the floor, near the entrance was a small pile of the Bradfield Village Voice. Because it was always full of advertorials for local businesses, she usually didn't bother to read it. However, the main headline screamed: "LIBRARY TO CLOSE".

  Jesus.

  She picked up a copy and devoured the story underneath.

  The Bradfield Public Library is expected to close permanently within a few months.

  On Wednesday, the Library Committee of the Wollongatta Municipal Council recommended that the library be closed as a budget-cutting measure. A full meeting of the Council is expected to rubber-stamp the recommendation within a fortnight.

  The Mayor, Tony Wicker, who chairs the Library Committee, told the Voice that committee members regretted having to recommend closure, because the library had served the Bradfield community for almost 100 years. "However, the Council must cut costs and four other libraries in the municipality will continue to serve the needs of rate-payers. This should reall
y be considered an amalgamation."

  He said the committee had targeted the Bradfield Public Library because it was the biggest, most expensive to run and fairly close to two other libraries which patrons can attend.

  "We also had to acknowledge that local libraries are declining in popularity. Fewer people borrow books: they're either downloading them or reading less."

  The Bradfield Residents' Action Association condemned the closure plan. Its President, Patsie Evans, said her organisation will hold a protest rally outside of the library next week.

  "The library is a cornerstone of our local community and offers poorer members access to books and the internet. Closing it would be a barbaric act. The Association will not take this lying down."

  Julia's was surprised she was so unconcerned about the prospect of unemployment. Maybe that would be a good thing; maybe it was time to stop drifting and pursue another career. She also wondered why Bronwyn, who attended the committee meeting, didn't tell her about the recommendation to close the library. Indeed, Bronwyn gave the impression that no library was selected for the chop. She was obviously being devious. Julia suspected she knew why.

  When Julia entered the library, the only sign of life was the light under Bronwyn's door. She pushed it open and found Bronwyn sitting at her desk, reading The Australian newspaper.

  "Hi," she said.

  "Bronwyn looked startled. "Hi."

  Julia took the Voice from under her arm and laid it out in front of Bronwyn. "According to this, the Council is going to give this library the axe."

  Bronwyn leaned forward, quickly digested the article and rocked back, wide-eyed. "Yes, it says that, doesn't it?"

  "Is it true?"

  A nervous smile. "In what way?"

  "That the committee has recommended the closure of this library."

  "Well, umm, yes, it seems so."

  "When you came back from the committee, you said nothing was decided."

  "It wasn't. They voted later."

  "You heard about the vote?"

  Bronwyn glanced away. "Someone mentioned it."